A/N: For some reason, I really like Russetpaw in this chapter. ^^ Hehe. Such brotherly love he has for his sister. Oh, Imma start giving away plushies (even though there are only 2 more chapter left but oh well). So, if you review, you get a Russetpaw plushie, that mews, "Blizzardpaw! I'm coming!" every time you squeeze his paw. How cute is that?! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Warriors, though I wish I did.

CHAPTER 8

Brightpaw gasped. "Coldheart is here!" she whispered to Badgerpaw.

"I know," he nodded. "But where is Blizzardpaw? I can't see her anywhere!"

"What if they have her?" Brightpaw mewed, horrified.

Russetpaw made a weird strangling noise that was too loud. Immediately the voices quieted, as if the cats were listening to something. "What was that?" the three hidden apprentices heard Spottedclaw hiss.

"Don't know, I'll go check." That was the deep grating voice of Coldheart. Badgerpaw held his breath as quiet pawsteps slowly came closer. He prepared himself to see the former deputy's bulky shape beyond the trees. The padding became a rustle, and Coldheart's head poked out of a bush. Of course he had crawled here, not walked! He should have thought of that sooner.

Badgerpaw's fur started to bristle with fear as Coldheart slowly realized who was in front of him. The masked apprentice who had attacked him three moons before on the dawn of the DarkClan/ rogue attack. His stern frown became a sinister smile that chilled Badgerpaw to the marrow of his bones.

"Hello, Badgerpaw. Did you miss me?" he purred, voice as sweet, thick and smooth as fresh honey, yet his inquisitive, amber eyes hardened into steel rocks.

Badgerpaw quickly glanced back and saw that, although they looked terrified half to death, Brightpaw and Russetpaw remained behind him, loyal as ever could be. They were such great friends, and were very dear to him. He would not let the black and white tom before him hurt them. Bravely swallowing his fear, Badgerpaw forced his fur to lay flat. He would not let Coldheart see how afraid he was. Never.

Stamping down his paw, he snarled, "You'll never harm ForestClan! Because I won't let you!"

Coldheart looked slightly taken aback, and Badgerpaw noticed confusion and surprise briefly flickering in his eyes. However, he quickly recovered, gaining back his harmful look. "I know that," he purred, making Badgerpaw shudder. "Which is why not me, but another cat will. And that is fine enough for me, as long as that flame cat destroys ForestClan, and rips you to shreds. So," he mewed, baring his sharp white teeth. "I believe you know too much now, which is why I must deal with you." Without warning, he lunged, unsheathed claws, paws outstretched.

As he leaped out of the bush, Badgerpaw saw he had grown much thinner. Coldheart was aiming for his eyes, a cat's weakest spot. Badgerpaw yowled in fear, and shot away just in time, as Coldheart lashed out his paw. It was a near miss.

Brightpaw and Russetpaw jumped out of their terrified reverie, and battled with Coldheart as well. Badgerpaw suddenly realized that Blizzardpaw's scent was fading quickly. He yowled to his two den-mates to keep Coldheart distracted, then he ran into the birch tree forest. He weaved through the bracken and undergrowth with skill and broke out of the protective covering. He had ran out near the edge of the flooded stream and caught himself as his paw slid on the slippery edge. He pulled back, his eyes shining in fear. When he was on safe dry ground again, he looked around. There were no cats to be seen anywhere.

He lifted his head to the air and scented Darkshadow, Spottedclaw, and… Blizzardpaw! Suddenly the reek of blood hit the roof of his mouth. Badgerpaw panicked and ran after the scent. It went along the bank a little ways, then disappeared, all three scents. When he lifted his head to check again, he could faintly sense the scent wafting from the other side of the flooded stream. A regular hop couldn't take him over. Badgerpaw realized he must do the bird crouch, the hunting move ending with a high and far leap to catch his prey. He knew he still needed much work on it, but he went back to the edge of the trees and dropped into the starting position.

StarClan, help me! he prayed silently. Then he crept forward, paws slowly then quickly going one in front of the other, tail waving to keep his balance. He went faster then faster and almost stumbling he kicked his paws hindpaws off the ground and he was… flying. His body soared over the water and landed on flat ground with a tail-length to spare. He knew that StarClan had helped him, but he also knew that he had mastered the bird crouch. If Lightstep had been there, she would have been bursting with pride.

Dazed from the landing, Badgerpaw stumbled. As he had scented, the scents were fresher over here, and the fresh tang of spilled blood filled his glands, almost choking him. Wait, spilled blood? He looked behind a bush. Yes, Badgerpaw was right: some blood had been spattered here.

All of a sudden he heard a cat yowling in pain and fear. It sounded like… Darkshadow? Badgerpaw abandoned his pursuit to speed off towards the yodeling noise. He swept past bushes, dead leaves, branches, and even a dead rabbit washed up on the bank. He wrinkled his nose at its rotting stench as tiny buzzing mayflies gathered around it. He came to this large rock with a small hollow etched into it. The rock was in the middle of the stream, and the yowls came from inside. Badgerpaw's ears twitched. This cat was reincarnated from Tigerstar, wasn't he? No, that he may be, but Badgerpaw wasn't cold hearted. Darkshadow was a respected and revered Clan-mate. He had a foul temper, but Badgerpaw never knew him to literally kill cats like Tigerstar. The masked apprentice jumped into the swiftly flowing water, and kicked out strongly. The hollow was only a little ways over. In a few heartbeats he dragged himself in, and shook water droplets off his fur.

Badgerpaw looked up. Darkshadow was lying on his back, his breathing was fast and shallow, his tail was twitching, and his usually bright amber eyes were just faintly glimmering. Badgerpaw thought he could faintly see the forests of StarClan reflected in them. "Darkshadow?" he mewed. "What… what happened?"

The light gray tom slowly looked up, and water trickled out of his open mouth. "Spottedclaw ditched me," he rasped. "Took Blizzardpaw with him. I tried to-to stop him, but he pushed me into… the stream. I nearly drowned, but I at least managed to drag myself into here." It was taking him more effort to speak now. "I… I remember… when you… were born… I was so proud of- of you, Lilyflower and… and I both. My… My son, I shall see you… again… in the ranks of… the heavenly ancestors. G-Good-bye, Badgerpaw." His head lolled to one side, and his harsh breathing stopped completely. Darkshadow was dead.

Badgerpaw was shocked. He had never really known his parents. His mother had given birth to him, but she had to give him to another queen to suckle him. She had had too many kits, and two had died when Badgerpaw was 4 moons old. It would have been very awkward to switch queens at that age, because Badgerpaw had already become very close with his own queen's kits: Brightpaw and Owlpaw.

Badgerpaw cocked his head. If his father was Darkshadow, and so was Spottedclaw's… then that meant the apprentice and the warrior were brothers!!! !!! !!!!!! Spottedclaw had only been born in a different litter. One that was before Badgerpaw's.

He lowered his head. He was very ashamed that he had ever called this cat a reincarnation of Tigerstar. Darkshadow was never evil, only a loyal, but short-tempered warrior, that was maybe a little misguided in a few places. Badgerpaw thought he cold have been imagining the hunger in the gray warrior's eyes when Creamtail was named deputy.

"Badgerpaw!" he heard Brightpaw call. "We K.O.'d Coldheart! Where are you?"

Badgerpaw looked up. They were back! He reached down and grabbed Darkshadow's scruff, then he carefully dragged it to the hollow's entrance. He plunged into the water and kicked out for the grassy bank. When he dragged the dead body to the top of the ridge, he looked around for his mottled brown crush. She was crouching under a bush, a tail-length away.

"Badgerpaw!" she hissed. "Leave that thing alone; let the foxes and hawks eat it! He's one of the enemies, remember?"

"No, he's not," Badgerpaw shook his head.

"What? Why!" Brightpaw mewed in confusion.

Badgerpaw looked at his paws. "He was my father."

Russetpaw, Jollypaw, Owlpaw, and Ashclaw ran out of the trees. "Darkshadow was your what?!" Owlpaw bristled, green eyes blazing in shock.

"My father," he repeated, looking up.

Ashclaw nodded in agreement. "Yes, it's true. I was also there when Lilyflower's kits were born. Darkshadow was swelling up with so much pride, it looked like he was going to explode."

"Where's Blizzardpaw? We need to go find her!" Russetpaw fretted, looking about wildly.

"My brother has her," Badgerpaw gasped.

"Your brother? You have a brother?" Brightpaw wailed, cocking her head.

"Yes, Spottedclaw. Don't you remember he is also Darkshadow's son?" Badgerpaw mewed in irritation.

"Oh, that's right! Yes, I do remember."

Ashclaw shook his pelt. "Enough. While we sit here gossiping like elders, Spottedclaw is probably doing something to Blizzardpaw, the poor thing. And Coldheart could awaken at any moment. Let's go."

"Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, we should be going right now!" Owlpaw chipped in.

Badgerpaw looked down at Darkshadow's gray pelt. "I'll put him in the bushes so we can bury him later. In an honorable way," he added sternly, glancing at Brightpaw.

Ashclaw nodded impatiently, while Badgerpaw went to hide the body in the bushes. Meanwhile, Russetpaw was crouching miserably, staring into space. He was afraid for his sister, Badgerpaw guessed. After he padded out, Ashclaw flicked his tail, and the apprentices followed him. The gray warrior swiftly ran to a thin part of the stream, and Badgerpaw gingerly splashed across the shallow water; he hated getting his paws wet, and he rarely ever did, but this was an emergency, as was going to see Darkshadow inside the rock. He would risk his life to save any of his Clan-mates in trouble, even Brightpaw… Especially her.

Over the moons he had known her, Badgerpaw loved her more and more everyday. In fact, he loved her more than he loved Quickpaw, and that was a serious achievement.

He wrinked his nose in disgust as he treaded through the wet spongy marsh. With every step, his big paw sunk half-way into the muck, and he had to pull it out with force. Every time he pulled free, the mud beneath popped back into place, making an odd shplopping sound. As the group ran swiftly on, they produced a loud chorus of splops. Shplop, shplop, shplop splop shplop. Finally they came across a small clump of windblown trees, all swaying back and forth, their bare branches waving gracefully to and fro. Badgerpaw looked up. He hadn't noticed that the sky had become white as snow, blocking out the sun's warmth.

A furious yowl sounded from the trees.

"Blizzardpaw!" Russetpaw yowled back. "I'm coming, sister!"

They burst through into the clearing. All there was, was bare ground with a few yellow patches of grass here and there, and a small rocky den at the far edge. Another yowl erupted from the cleft. Badgerpaw flicked his tail at the den and hissed at Asshclaw: "That must be where Spottedclaw is keeping Blizzardpaw."

"Yes, the scent does lead that way," Ashclaw agreed. "But Spottedclaw's scent-trail leads back out and further across DarkClan territory."

Badgerpaw winced. He hadn't noticed that the spotted warrior's trail had led somewhere else. "Right," he mewed, "I believe that Jollypaw, Brightpaw, and Owlpaw should go after Spottedclaw, while Ashclaw, Russetpaw and myself go and check out the den. Everybody okay with that?"

Ashclaw was nodding thoughtfully, and Owlpaw was looking at the ground, making scratches with his claws. Jollypaw's eyes brimmed with gratitude. "I'd love to go and catch that traitor, Spottedclaw. Thanks, Badgerpaw!"

"Yes, thank you," Brightpaw quietly agreed, nervously licking her chest fur.

Russetpaw bounced at the opportunity, yet worry still shone in his eyes. "I sure hope Blizzardpaw is okay," he chittered. "I hope nothing bad happened to her. If so, then who am I going to play 'Firestar and the Quest to Find SkyClan' with?"

"Don't worry, we'll save her," Ashclaw murmured to him. Then he turned to Badgerpaw, his chest all buffed out. "You can count me in, Badgerpaw!" he declared.

"Great! Now, while you three," he gestured to Brightpaw, Owlpaw, and Jollypaw, "are chasing after my traitor brother, Ashclaw, Russetpaw, and I will quickly work out a battle plan."

The apprentices nodded in agreement. "What will we do if we catch him, though?" Jollypaw ventured.

"Keep him pinned down until we come and take over with Blizzardpaw. Be careful of DarkClan patrols, and try not to get caught. I trust you guys, and if you do get caught, don't fight. Let them take you back to their camp, and from there try to escape," Badgerpaw explained, sternly looking at each of the cats. "You should go now, before Spottedclaw has any more time to distance himself further from us."

Almost before Badgerpaw stopped talking, his fellow Clan-mates' tail-tips disappeared through the bare trees.

"Well, that takes care of them," Russetpaw observed. "So, what's the game plan, then?"

Ashclaw, you take my right flank," Badgerpaw ordered. "And Russetpaw, my left."

"I don't usually take orders from an apprentice, but even I don't have such a cool head on my shoulders," grumbled the silver coated warrior. He took his orders and followed them anyways.

"Right," Badgerpaw meowed. "We advance quietly, because another cat might still be in there. I mean, of course, Blizzardpaw would be," he added, rolling his eyes in a vain attempt to be sarcastic. "But, when we get there, we need to jump him or her, and take them by surprise. Got it?"

Ashclaw and Russetpaw nodded in understanding. "Let's go, and maybe-"

Badgerpaw cut the older cat off. "We go on my orders," he snarled, suddenly irritated. This was his plan, not mouse-dung Ashclaw's! If he wanted to go order apprentices around, then that was fine by Badgerpaw, but not if he was one of the apprentices. Just as suddenly, the masked apprentice calmed down. "Sorry," he muttered to a genuinely looking hurt Ashclaw who quickly recovered with a gruff shake of his head.

Settling into their positions at the edge of the bare clearing, Badgerpaw looked on either side of him. Ashclaw: the cunning ForestClan deputy, fur as silver as if moonlight washed over it; Russetpaw: the anxious and young apprentice who pined for his sister to play with him again; and he himself, Badgerpaw: the only apprentice in the whole of ForestClan who has undergone so many changes and mysteries that the average apprentice normally wouldn't encounter at such a young age. Barely his whole life, even. Badgerpaw smirked. He wasn't that sure, but he thought of himself to be part of at least one prophecy. Elders would tell his generation's story a million times over, for many hundreds of seasons to come.

Badgerpaw flicked his gray tail. That was the signal. Immediately the three ForestClan cats advanced slowly on the den which they suspected that Blizzardpaw to be in.

StarClan help us, Badgerpaw prayed silently. I hope this is the right thing to do.